Courtesy Photo The Alpena County Girlfriends donated these purses filled with personal items to Purses with a Purpose.

ALPENA — The Alpena County Girlfriends recently donated eight new purses full of personal items to the Michigan State Police’s Purses with a Purpose campaign.

For the month of April, the Michigan State Police Alpena Post is gathering new or gently used purses and bags filled with comfort items to benefit survivors of sexual assault. Suggested items include toiletries, hand sanitizer, socks, candy, body wipes, lotion, shampoo, manicure set, hair brush, cell phone charger, pens, and journals.

Donations are being accepted through April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, at the Alpena Post located at 3283 W. Washington Ave., Alpena. The Alpena Post hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Betty DuRocher started the Alpena County Girlfriends two years ago as a way for women to get together to socialize, make new friends, learn more about the community, and to make a difference.

“We’ve made some really solid friendships through this group,” DuRocher said. “The ladies that belong to our group were looking to give back to the community in some way, so we all decided to either donate a purse or items, and it just all came together.”

The group meets at 10 a.m. every Thursday at JJ’s Steak and Pizza House. Approximately 15 to 20 women attend the weekly meeting, but the Alpena County Girlfriends has a total membership of more than 170, DuRocher said.

The purses stuffed with items will benefit Hopes Shore Alliance, to be distributed to survivors of sexual assault.

Items inside the donated purses include hand sanitizer, socks, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, hairbrushes, nail polish, journals, pens, tissues, and hairpins.